June 2026
FANRPAN Launches New Regional Initiative to Strengthen Climate-Resilient Agrifood Systems in East and Southern Africa
The Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) is proud to announce the launch of a new regional initiative supported by the Judith Neilson Foundation that will strengthen inclusive, climate-resilient, and evidence-based agrifood systems in Eswatini, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
Across Africa, agriculture remains a critical source of livelihoods, employment, and economic growth. However, millions of smallholder farmers continue to face persistent challenges, including climate variability, low agricultural productivity, post-harvest losses, limited access to quality inputs and services, and weak linkages between research, policy, and practice. These challenges disproportionately affect women and youth, limiting their ability to participate meaningfully in agricultural value chains and benefit from emerging opportunities within the sector.
To address these challenges, FANRPAN will work closely with national partners, governments, research institutions, civil society organisations, and farming communities to strengthen policy and institutional frameworks that support sustainable agricultural transformation. The initiative adopts a country-driven approach, responding to nationally identified priorities while promoting regional learning and knowledge exchange.
In Eswatini, the programme will support efforts to strengthen the seed sector by improving policy frameworks and creating opportunities for women- and youth-led seed enterprises. In Uganda, the initiative will focus on strengthening post-harvest management systems and policies to reduce food losses, improve food safety, and enhance market opportunities for farmers. In Zimbabwe, the programme will strengthen community-based livestock extension through improved policies, institutional capacity, and service delivery, contributing to more resilient livestock-based livelihoods.
Lessons drawn from these three country interventions will be used to support governments and regional bodies to align policies, strengthen coordination and build institutional capacity for implementation.
Beyond these country-specific interventions, the initiative will invest in institutional strengthening, knowledge management, digital Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) systems, stakeholder engagement, and multi-stakeholder policy dialogue platforms. These efforts will help ensure that evidence informs decision-making and that successful innovations can be scaled and sustained over time.
The programme will be implemented in partnership with FANRPAN Node Hosting Institutions in focal countries, the Coordinating Assembly of Non-Governmental Organisations (CANGO) in Eswatini, Makerere University in Uganda, and the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) in Zimbabwe, leveraging the strengths of national institutions and FANRPAN’s regional network to drive impact.
By 2028, the initiative aims to contribute to stronger institutions, more responsive policies, improved agricultural productivity, and enhanced resilience among farming communities. Through collaboration, innovation, and evidence-based policymaking, the programme will support efforts to build agrifood systems that are more productive, inclusive, sustainable, and capable of withstanding future shocks.
The initiative aligns with the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), the CAADP Strategy and Action Plan 2026–2035, the Kampala Declaration, and Africa’s Agenda 2063, contributing to a shared vision of a food-secure, prosperous, and resilient Africa.